Summary of Results (2004)

The results of the 2004 Survey of Research and Development (R&D) conducted as of 31 March 2004 were released on 14 December 2004. The survey has been conducted as Designated Statistics No.61 every year since 1953, it is the 52nd time at this year.

Results of the Survey of Research and Development

R&D Expenditure

Japan's total expenditure on R&D during fiscal year (FY) 2003 stood at 16,804 billion yen, an increase of 0.8% from the previous year and it keeps being on the increase for four years continuously. The ratio of R&D spending to GDP was 3.35%, keeping the highest record since previous fiscal year.

The main industries that expenditure on R&D for business enterprises increased were "Precision machinery", an increase of 11.0%; "Transportation equipment", an increase of 6.2%; and "Electrical machinery, equipment and supplies", an increase of 5.2% compared with the previous year.

Of the expenditure on R&D of the four priority sector for science and technology basic policy increased greatly were spent by nanotechnology and materials sector, an increase of 42.2%, environment sector, an increase of 13.0%, information technology (IT) sector, an increase of 10.5% compared with the previous year.

R&D personnel

As of 31 March 2004, researchers were numbered 787,300 persons, up 4.0% from the previous year. It is the highest than the past year, and is increasing the three consecutive years. Of this, female researchers accounted for 11.6% up 0.4 point from the previous year and its rate is the highest than the past years. As of 31 March 2004, the number of supporting staffs in R&D activities except the researcher was 207,100, a decrease of 1.7% from the previous year and it keeps beig on the decrease for five years continuously.

Technology Exchange

With regard to technology transfer by business enterprises, receipts by technology exports reached 1,512 billion yen, a record figure and, up by 9.0% from the previous fiscal year. Payments by technology imports reached 564 billion yen, up by 4.1% from the previous fiscal year.